Creating Independent and Interdependent Learners: Business and Education Working Together.

Alberta Dept. of Education, Edmonton. Curriculum Standards Branch.

In March 1990, Alberta's Education Minister established five teams to help implement Alberta's 3-year plan for education. Two of those teams, the Implementation Team on Business Involvement and Technology Integration (I-Team) and the Business Involvement Advisory Group (BIAG), worked to develop plans and recommendations regarding expanding business involvement in education through workplace learning opportunities for students and to increase the effective use of technology in the delivery of education. The I-Team and BIAG gathered information through the following activities: survey of approximately 9,500 stakeholders in education in Alberta (response rate, 8.4%); literature review; survey of all Alberta schools to identify existing/planned school-business partnerships; and invitational forum of 250 educators and lay Albertans. The I-Team and BIAG synthesized the information gathered into recommendations regarding the following: school-business communication/understanding; business/employer involvement in educational policymaking; employability skills; entrepreneurship education; valuing all career areas/educational programs equally; part-time jobs; career education/counseling; independent/interdependent lifelong learning; and equity. Contains a glossary and 33 references. Appended are the following: program brochure; 90th annual report on Alberta education; ethical guidelines for business-education partnerships; background information on the program and assessment advisory committee; employability skills profile; and descriptions of the Career Resource Centres and Careers...The Next Generation projects. (MN)